Recalibrate daily
“I now think the rampant individualism of our current culture is a catastrophe. The emphasis on self, individual success, self-fulfillment, is a catastrophe.” NYT Best-Selling Author David Brooks
Per Webster, individualism is the belief that the needs, interests, and rights of each person are more important than those of the whole society or group.
Life, human nature, naturally points one to individualism versus the greater good.
In life, comparisons give momentum to individualism. We naturally compare to others. Everything from houses to cars to vacations to children’s achievements. We compare individual talents or skills to others. You name it, we compare it.
At work, individualism moves us to compare titles, pay, promotions, materiality, backgrounds, achievements. Individual success becomes more important than the team or company. Personal glorification becomes the goal.
Most anything with a GPS goes haywire occasionally. The ability for the device to pinpoint location and guide becomes a bit off. Follow too long and you end up headed in the wrong direction or moving to the wrong target. The device needs recalibration to get you back on track.
The same is true in my life. Like a GPS device, my thinking goes haywire. Individualism takes over. The focus becomes squarely on me, my life, my desires, my wants. Follow too long and I end up moving in the wrong direction toward an empty purpose.
Life requires daily recalibration.
One of the easiest ways to recalibrate is to impact another. There is a joy from positively impacting another’s life. The other becomes greater than yourself. The team, the company, the group, becomes more important than you. The act of impacting another moves one from individualistic thinking.
We leave so many opportunities on the table each day. The text that was not sent. The encouraging conversation left unsaid. The busyness that prevented you from participating. The one that was never recognized. The opportunity to serve that was given to someone else. The love that I did not give my spouse or child.
Recalibrating by impacting another acts as a domino. If I see someone serving, I desire to serve. If someone drives unity, others naturally fall in. If I receive an encouraging word, I desire to give an encouraging word.
Recalibration might be the greatest gift you can give to yourself today.
impact others. Live generously.